Of the 4 cities we visited during Christmas break, this was my 3rd favorite. The city was a bit too dirty, the beach too full of glass and too violent for my liking. I didn't find it nearly as relaxing as Krabi. However, we did like our Citin Loft accommodations fine. This is a hotel, not a resort, so the whole family had 1 room and no kitchen. We enjoyed the locals and loved the view of the New Year's Eve fireworks from the hotel rooftop. There was another beach about 15 minutes away by tuktuk. This was a bit cleaner and had massage places right on the beach. Both beaches offered horseback riding for a reasonable price, which the kids enjoyed. 